Essaouria

After a few days in Marrakech, we took a 3.5 hr bus ride to the coastal town of Essaouira. The vibe of Essaouria was much like any beach town, laid back and chill. It was a pleasant welcome after the hustle and craziness of Marrakech.

See more photos of Essaouria here.

Marrakech: Lamb Alley

When a friend of mine heard that I was going to Morocco, he sent me this picture (man on the left). He told me to find this man at Mechoui Alley. Luckily we stumbled upon the alley and I showed this picture to the man (on the right) and asked where I can find him. He said, "That is my father." At first, I didn't believe him because I thought he just wanted us to eat at his shop. But he quickly pointed out the stars and the tiles were the same in the background. There was no doubt there and he welcomed us to his delicious slow roasted lamb.

The pit

The goods

More photos here.

Marrakech: Souks

Wandering around and shopping in the souks was interesting and fun. All the shops were neatly organized and each vendor welcomed you to come inside. "Looking is free" is what they always stated.

They had shoes in every color.

Scarves from floor to ceiling.

I really wished I could have bought more of their ceramics.

And of course, they had a great selection of spices.

Go here for more photos of the souks.

Marrakech: Ali Ben Youssef Medersa

Ali Ben Youssef Medersa was one of the largest Islamic Colleges in Morocco, now preserved as a historical site. My favorite part of the building was the courtyard that displayed the beautiful carvings in cedar, marble and stucco.

See more photos here.

Hello Morocco

I love sitting by the window seat on planes to get shots like these. Here is Marrakech, Morocco.

There are horse drawn carriages, motor-bikes, bicycles and walkers all on the street.

We would see these boxes with numbers spray painted on the side of walls. We later found out from a local that it explains what kind of stores are represented there.

(photos by Cathie)